2025 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained much of its aesthetic appeal from the previous year, with the Wilderness trim receiving a slight update in the form of a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding provided a striking contrast to the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Outback Touring XT model, which was described as a "green-tinged dark khaki." This color choice was surprisingly attractive, offering a fresh alternative to the more traditional champagne-beige hues. The Outback's various trims featured different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim showcasing the most chrome, which was tastefully executed. Wheel designs varied across trims, with standard black 17-inch alloy wheels and a matte black version for the Wilderness trim, while the Onyx Edition and higher trims sported larger 18-inch wheels with a machine finish.

Inside, the top-trim Outback impressed with its upscale interior, featuring Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery that was both visually appealing and comfortable. The Outback Limited offered standard leather seating, while the Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims used Subaru's StarTex synthetic leather. Base and Premium trims came with cloth seats. The interior quality exceeded expectations for a brand known more for capability than luxury, making the Outback a pleasant surprise in terms of comfort and style.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while still resembling a traditional minivan, attempted to inject some style into its design. The trapezoidal grille, upswept body lines, and hidden sliding door tracks gave it a distinctive look, though the resemblance to a hand vacuum was hard to shake. The Platinum trim featured new flower-petal wheel designs, adding a touch of elegance. Despite these efforts, the Sienna remained unmistakably a minivan, prioritizing practicality over aesthetics. The Magnetic Gray paint color on the Platinum model added a touch of sophistication, and the lineup included various trims with prices ranging from $40,980 to $57,940.

Inside, the Sienna Platinum offered a refreshed interior with a new woodgrain finish, though opinions on its appeal varied. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were a hit with passengers, and the refrigerated compartment added a cool factor. The third-row seat was accommodating for adults, and the sliding side doors made loading and unloading easy. However, the hard cushions of the front seats detracted from long-distance comfort. The Sienna's cargo space was generous, though its maximum capacity fell short compared to rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 2,700 to 3,500 lbs. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) were standard across the lineup. The Touring XT model, with its turbo engine, provided a satisfying driving experience, managing the vehicle's weight effectively. The CVT mimicked the sound and feel of eight distinct gears, enhancing the driving experience. The Outback's suspension and reasonably sized wheels contributed to a comfortable ride, and the Wilderness trim offered increased ground clearance and off-road capabilities.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a CVT. The standard front-wheel drive (FWD) could be upgraded to an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system with an additional rear-mounted electric motor. The hybrid system produced a net horsepower of 245, which was adequate for the Sienna's size and towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the minivan from feeling sluggish. The Sienna excelled in city driving and offered a quiet highway experience, though the CVT's noise was noticeable during hard acceleration. The hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 36 mpg in combined driving, though real-world results varied. The Sienna's handling was predictable but not particularly engaging, with a smooth and absorbent ride.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleek proportions. It provided more headroom and legroom in the front compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and expanded to 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While the Outback's cargo space was slightly less than some rivals, it excelled in passenger comfort and feature availability. Dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat were standard on most trims. The Outback also offered a hands-free power liftgate, power moonroof, and versatile roof rails with retractable cross bars.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized form and function with its minivan design. The front seats were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, though the cushions felt hard during long drives. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's sliding side doors and hands-free power liftgate facilitated easy loading and unloading. Storage space was generous, though finding secure spots for large water bottles was challenging. The Sienna offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third-row seats stowed. Maximum cargo capacity was 101 cubic feet, limited by the non-removable second-row seats.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Touring featured a CD player, USB-C and USB-A ports, and an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting from the Premium trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for essential functions. Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) infotainment system. The Platinum model included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display (HUD), and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered various connected services plans, with a digital assistant as part of the Drive Connect plan. The Sienna Platinum featured a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, though the sound quality was bass-heavy. The four-zone climate control system and digital rearview camera added convenience, while the HUD provided useful information.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Outback featured the EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims, and the Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Sienna's adaptive cruise control required human intervention during sudden traffic braking events. The 2025 model added a rear-seat reminder system, alerting the driver to movement within the cabin. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it scored lower in frontal crash tests.